Unmatched Wife: Not His To Claim Anymore novel Chapter 51

BIANCA

*Four Weeks After Bianca’s Supposed Death*

I woke to the sound of Louis singing what I could only assume was supposed to be a song about dinosaurs, though the melody bore nothing in resemblance to anything I’d ever heard before. His off–key voice drifted through my door, loud and delightful.

“And the T–Rex goes STOMP STOMP STOMP, eating all the little ones UP UP UP—”

Despite everything that had been going on in my life, this past month I found myself smiling. My màte bond was finally broken off, although I never felt the pain of it, something about my doctor telling me, it happened during my unconsciousness which was better for me, at least that was a pain I didn’t need a reminder of. Besides there was something infectious about Louis’s joy, his absolute conviction that each morning was meant to be faced with happiness and a good dinosaur song.

I stretched carefully, checking my body looking for pain and stuffiness that came with the recovery process. The bone–deep exhaustion that had plagued me since the ritual had finally lifted. My magical reserves, was slowly building up as I could feel the humming under my skin. I wasn’t at full strength yet, but getting there, and that was much than I could say for myself a month ago.

The morning sunlight rays made it way through the curtains that Rivera had hung–at Louis’s insistence, apparently, because ” the sun needs to say good morning to Dr. Bianca.” Everything in this house bore Louis’s fingerprints, his influence. Even the fresh flowers on my nightstand had been his idea, replaced every three days with blooms he selected himself from the garden.

I dressed in clothes I’d ordered online, comfortable clothes, in general the kind of wardrobe I’d never been allowed to have in Matthew’s house. Jeans that actually fit or joggers that I wore just for the comfort. Soft sweaters. Shoes that didn’t hurt after an hour of wear.

The singing had moved downstairs as the singer was focused on getting to his destination despite the fact that his sing was cut abruptly because he kept jumping down the stairs, and I followed it to find Louis in the kitchen, standing on his step stool at the counter while Rivera worked at the stove. The domestic scene made something in my chest ache with longing for what I’d never had, this sense of belonging.

“Mummy!” Louis spotted me and waved enthusiastically, nearly toppling off his stool before Rivera’s hand shot out to steady him. “I’m making special pancakes! Well, Dad’s making them, but I’m supervising, which is almost the same thing.”

“Supervising is very important work,” I agreed, moving to pour myself coffee from the pot Rivera had already prepared. He’d learned how I took it without me ever telling him. Just observed and remembered.

“Morning,” Rivera said, glancing over his shoulder. His hair was slightly damp from a shower, and he was wearing a casual button–down that somehow made him look both hot and relaxed. “How are you feeling?”

“Good. Really good, actually.” I took a sip of my perfectly made coffee. “I think I’m finally turning the corner. My magical reserves are almost back to normal.

Something passed across his features before nodding his head.

“That’s excellent news. Dr. Palmer will be pleased when you see her for your follow–up.”

There was a weight to his words that I couldn’t quite decipher. Was he worried I’d leave now that I was better? Relieved? Something else entirely?

Louis, oblivious to the undercurrents, patted the stool beside him. “Sit here, Mummy! I need to tell you about my dream. It was about a dinosaur who could fly, but not like a pterodactyl, like a T–Rex with actual wings, and—”

“Louis, let Dr. Bianca wake up first,” Rivera interrupted gently, sliding a plate of pancakes in front of me. They were perfect, topped with fresh berries and a light dusting of powdered sugar.

Chapter 51

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“It’s fine,” I said, smiling at Louis’s eager face. “I want to hear about the flying T–Rex.”

As Louis launched into a story involving flying dinosaurs and their adventures in “the sky jungle,” I found myself relaxing into the moment. This was nice. The kind of nice that made me forget this was temporary, that I needed to establish my own life, my

own space.

“Rivera,” I said during a brief pause in Louis’s narrative when he stuffed a large bite of pancake in his mouth. “I’ve been thinking. I’m feeling so much better now, and I don’t want to overstay my welcome. Maybe it’s time I looked at that apartment you mentioned, started figuring out-

”

“NO!” Louis’s shout was so sudden and forceful that both Rivera and I jumped. “You can’t leave! You absolutely cannot!”

“Louis-” Rivera started, but his son was already in full panic mode, scrambling down from his stool to grab my hand.

“You don’t understand!” His eyes were wide, earnest, completely serious. “The house is haunted!”

I blinked. “Haunted?”

“Yes! There are ghosts in the east wing and the attic and probably the basement too, though I’m not allowed down there so I can’t confirm.” He nodded sagely, as if this was perfectly logical. “And you’re the only one who can see them because you have special magic. If you leave, the ghosts will be sad and lonely and they’ll probably start making scary noises at night.”

I looked at Rivera, who was studying his coffee with intense focus, his shoulders shaking slightly with suppressed laughter.

“And there’s more!” Louis continued, warming to his theme. “My LEGOs will be devastated. Absolutely devastated. They’ve gotten used to you, and LEGOs have very delicate feelings. If you leave, they’ll probably stop being interesting sets and just become boring blocks.”

“Louis, I don’t think—”

“And who will help me make my special sandwiches?” He played his trump card. “The ones cut into dinosaur shapes? Dad tries, but he always makes the T–Rex look like a weird chicken. You’re the only one who understands how to draw them well.”

“That’s true,” Rivera admitted, finally looking up with amusement dancing in his eyes. “My dinosaur sandwiches are apparently an embarrassment to paleontology.”

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